Vet Judy

Oats (Avena) seeded for fall forage in well-drained ground is one of my favorite choices for deer food plots. “Forage oats” seem to be very attractive to the deer on our farm. I think this is because oats tend to remain greener longer into the winter—I’ve even seen deer seek out oats from underneath snowcover.

Either winter or spring oat varieties can be utilized for winter and fall forage. (Spring oats have been developed to produce grain when planted in the spring). Spring oats can be planted for fall forage from late July to early September, depending on your region and climate. For forage, plant winter oat varieties about two weeks later than spring oat varieties. In a deer plot devoted solely to oats, the seeding rate will be about 100 pounds per acre.

Oats are also a proven crop to help establish grass and legume seedings. You might consider sowing oats along with alfalfa, a strategy used often by American farmers to help establish alfalfa plantings.

Oats may also be a crop that can be used if you’re establishing food plantings on former pasture ground, especially in climates south of where I live. Frost seeding forage oats into closely-grazed pasture ground in the late winter can result in suitable spring forage for wildlife in the early spring. You could then come in during the later spring or summer and begin preparing the ground for your fall food plot.

For more information on annuals: see  http://www.diydeerfoodplots.com/articles/annual-forages.html

            Oats (Avena) seeded for fall forage in well-drained ground is one of my favorite choices for deer plots.  “Forage oats” seem to be very good deer attractant on our farm.  I think this is because oats tend to remain greener longer into the winter—I’ve even seen deer seek out oats from underneath snowcover.

            Either winter or spring oat varieties can be utilized for winter and fall forage.  (Spring oats have been developed to produce grain when planted in the spring).  Spring oats can be planted for fall forage from late July to early September, depending on your region and climate.  For forage, plant winter oat varieties about two weeks later than spring oat varieties.  In a field devoted solely to oats, the seeding rate will be about 100 pounds per acre.

            Oats are also a proven crop to help establish grass and legume seedings.  You might consider sowing oats along with alfalfa, a strategy used often by American farmers to help establish alfalfa plantings.

            Oats may also be a crop that can be used if you’re establishing food plot plantings on former pasture ground, especially in climates south of where I live.  Frost seeding forage oats into closely-grazed pasture ground in the late winter can result in suitable spring forage for wildlife in the early spring.  You could then come in during the later spring or summer and begin preparing the ground for your fall deer plot.

For more information on plant selection consider reading  http://www.diydeerfoodplots.com/articles/annual-forages.html 

Birdsfoot trefoil is a popular legume crop in many deer food plot plantings.

Each year, the University of Minnesota conducts field trials to evaluate different varieties of birdsfoot trefoil. Results from last season (2008) were released this past January and are available here (www.maes.umn.edu/09varietaltrials/birdsfoot.pdf).

For northern climates, winterhardiness is critical for a legume like birdsfoot trefoil. Winter injury can vary greatly between varieties.

The tests at Minnesota evaluated varieties for winter injury in 2004, and found no injury in the “Dawn,” “Georgia,” “Norcen” and “Nueltin” varieties. Minimal winter injury was found in the Viking and Roseau varieties in the 2004 test.

The highest yielding variety at the Grand Rapids, MN, test location in 2008 Minnesota trials was a variety called Witt. However, a winterhardy rating for Witt was not listed in the report. The “Dawn” variety of birdsfoot trefoil was the second highest yielding, and has exhibited good winterhardiness.

For the past three years, Minnesota’s reports have recommended the “Norcen” variety of birdsfoot trefoil as an ideal, winterhardy variety performing well in grazing trials.

These test results from Minnesota illustrate the sound information that is available to evaluate varieties for deer food plot plantings. One of the most common mistakes made in deer food plots is planting varieties better suited to another growing zone. As seen by the birdsfoot trefoil test, some varieties that yield very well in both southern and northern zones may not have the winterhardiness needed for the kind of climate and conditions in northern regions.

Always be sure to verify that the crop varieties you are planting in your deer food plot are suitable to your climate.

For All The ABC’s of deer food Plots check out the resources at www.diydeerfoodplots.com

Should you need information on Soybeans, forage oats, rapeseed, chicory and ryegrass, be sure to read the free article.

Controlling perennial weeds in food plots, with expansive root systems can be very challenging and you usually have to use all control methods at your disposal.

Remember three key words: mow, till and spray!

In the case of bracken fern, if it is coming out of the woods and into the plot, it will likely take years of effort consistently applied. Try cutting and spraying, but don’t get your hopes too high in eliminating it. It is almost impossible to eliminate when originating from nearby woods, but steady vigilance may help you keep it from overtaking your plot.

In a food plot environment, a writer for our website www.diydeerfoodplots.com, recommended the following approach. 

He sprays in the fall the first year, when the plant is still green so it pulls some of the chemical into the root system. Then he uses a tillage in the spring to remove the foliage and spray the regrowth. He is back at it after the emergence has died with yet another tillage. Then he sprays regrowth again.  So, three spraying the first year, fall and two spring-early summer application. 

He then plants an annual species like chicory, rapeseed or forage oats. Check out our tips on annuals at www.diydeerfoodplots.com/articles/7bv78nn.html

For those of you with deer food plots, you may need to plant only Annual Forages on that plot for two or three years using multiple spring and early summer chemical applications to get control of the fern.

If you have had bracken fern or other perennial weed problems it is best to get started early this year with an early mowing, or a hard tillage pass - literally working the area hard followed by a chemical application after a good six inches of regrowth or so.

Colin, had the following comments to add to my previous post on bracken fern control: It is doubtful whether or not you can get the type of tillage completed, for that first pass anyway, with four-wheeler attachments.  This will take a larger tractor and heavy tillage equipment - like a moldboard plow or a ripper.  Then till the area again, which four-wheeler and attachments may work, as the second pass shouldn’t need to be as extensive and then spray the re-growth again. 

Your client could then plant an Annual Forage in late July or the first week of August.  Due to the root system nature of this plant they will have to do the same thing next year again.  It will take a dedicated effort of weed control and using an Annual Forage for the first two years, at least.  I wouldn’t fertilize yet, and just get what you can from the annual.  If you fertilize it may stimulate further weed growth.